GB1416661A - Containership - Google Patents

Abstract

1416661 Container ships; hatch covers T T LUNDE and E O LUNDE 28 Jan 1974 03876/74 Headings B7A and B7S A container ship comprises a hull 7 in which are stowed a plurality of containers C stacked in a plurality of tiers 2 extending upwardly from the bottom of the hold 3 to a point above the main deck 4, the tiers being stacked between vertical guides G extending throughout the desired vertical extent of the tiers at each comer of the container, and hatch covers (Figs. 2, 6) being provided, insertable in the guides to close the hold at the level of the deck 4 and to support containers stacked above the deck thereon or to be mounted atop the uppermost container in a tier. Diagonal stays 8 are provided to strengthen the guides G above the level of the deck 4 and half-length containers C<SP>1</SP> may be accommodated by arranging them end on and providing adapters 10 therebetween. Each hatch cover comprises a planar body portion 12 having oppositely disposed portions 13 with which are associated hinged distal sections 14, each of which includes a pair of corner plates 15 joined by a web 16 underlying the associated portion 13. A latch L is provided to hold each portion 14 coplanar with the body portion 12 but in normal use the latches L are released and the hatch cover may be suspended from attachments A when the distal portions 14 will pivot downwardly to an extent limited by brackets 18, and wherein the hatch cover may be moved between the guides G and guided for vertical movement by centre guides G<SP>1</SP> engaging notches n in the portions 13. As the hatch cover is lowered to the level of the deck rollers 30 on the distal portions 14 engage rails 31 at the coaming 38 and move outwardly as the portions 14 align with the body portion at gaps in the guides G to rest on spring-loaded platforms 33 which move downwardly under the full weight of the hatch cover, seals being provided round the hatch cover and hatch opening and gaskets between the sections 13, 14 to provide water tightness. Rollers 22 on cranks 27 connected to compression cylinders 24 allow the hatch cover to be lowered on to a flat surface, e.g. the top of a stacked container.